By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is investigating whether substandard and radioactive steel products seized from a Pampanga steel plant were used in government flood control projects, raising fresh concerns over the safety of public infrastructure.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the bureau is validating whether steel products manufactured by Chuangxin Steel Inc. were supplied to government projects after nationwide test purchases indicated that the market had been flooded with the company’s defective steel products.
“If we establish that these materials were used in government projects, they would qualify as substandard,” Matibag said.
NBI investigators found that the company’s reinforcing steel bars failed to meet legal standards for strength, ductility and mass variation, making them vulnerable to collapse during earthquakes and other structural stresses, according to the bureau’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives and Foreign Malign Influence Unit.
Matibag warned that contractors could face legal liability if investigations prove they used the defective materials in government infrastructure, noting that builders remain accountable for hidden defects even after project completion.
The bureau is coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to inspect public infrastructure that may have used the questionable steel products.
The investigation followed a July 18 raid by the NBI and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Chuangxin Steel’s facility in Magalang, Pampanga, where authorities seized more than ₱3 billion worth of radioactive equipment and substandard steel products. The operation also led to the rescue of 347 Filipino workers and 37 Chinese nationals from what authorities described as hazardous working conditions.
The NBI has recommended filing criminal charges against 12 company officials for alleged violations of environmental, labor and safety laws.
ia/xf
